Escape From The LCR

We often see the clouds where we aren't. We are always out in the Blue Hole known as the Little Colorado River Valley or LCR. The crux to many a cross country flight from The Craters is escaping and getting to a place that is working better. Today I managed to get out. I've tried this route many times and only made it once before. Two years ago I got out after taking a frisbee thermal over the back of Merriam and blundered into a real thermal out in the middle of nowhere that got me up high enough to make the jump to Anderson Mesa and into the Rim Country. I managed 40 miles before getting shut down by shade frome the clouds and the activity quit for the day. Today was a much different set up. I launched went right to 8,000 ft and punched back out front for another that booted me up too 11,200. I headed down wind and crossed some real estate fast but got no love from the flats and hoped for some lift at Rattlesnake Crater. No dice. Getting low I edged toward I-40 in hopes of either getting up or making my retrive easier on Paul. I was just about to tell him to come and get me when I started to get worked. Getting worked on the flats is OK it usually means your in the right place and I was. This nasty little thermal was all I could hang on to so I did. It beat me up pretty good but I was getting higher. I was now a thermal away from making the jump up onto the Mesa yet I was commited to a really long walk as the last thermal had drifted me miles from any road and it didn't get me all that high only 9,000ft. Not alot considering when you jump onto the Mesa you loose a thousand feet. I headed for the Mesa in hopes of getting up on the rim. No need as I lucked into a 2000 ft per minute monster that had all the turbulance you would expect to have from a beast that strong in the month of May. Meanwhile conditions all around me were starting to change, my ground speed was near 60 mph and thermals were getting really strong and voilent. The clouds I had worked so hard to get to where changing shape from cotton candy to more flattend and shredded. I had escaped the LCR yet it seemed that the day had bigger plans. I have flown in the Owens and the supper ratty, strong air of King Mountain Idaho but I felt that at this point I was at my max. OK so just land. Normally landing this time of day would not be advised. Remember the air has never hurt anyone! But the ground has pretty much got us all at one point in or lives. However once you get up on the Mesa you are in a whole new world. On most days a better world as there is green grass and lakes every where so instead of heading off to the first cloud of my flight I called it quits and set up to land down wind of a couple small lake's that together were about a mile long. I turned into the wind and parked it straight down if not a little backwards in smooth wind off of the lake and put it away in the grass. Paul was there in no time with a cold beer. It was a fun flight but more stress than I like to fly with. Next time if the weather allows I'll see you in Showlow.

Patience

I'll be the first to say that teaching or learning in May in northern Arizona has its downfalls. 1st is the insain time at which you have to get out of bed after working all week just to get in a few flights before the wind turns on or the thermals come out and scare the @#$%^& out of ya. Then there is the weather liars. Yesterday classic example of how evened trained professionals with years of school get it wrong. Its sad because they are usually correct when it comes to the wind. It was supposed to be light winds a good change as it has been the windiest spring I can remember. My student Greg and I set up on the north side of Sheba in a 10-15 mile an hour breeze with hopes of him getting his first soaring flight. BEWARE Murphy and his infamous Law are always at the hill. The second Greg finished hooking in the nice soarable breeze gave way to a 25-30 mile an hour wind that sent us to the truck and down the hill. The moral of the story is don't get discouraged! No matter how bad Greg wanted to fly and how much I wanted him to get his first long flight we have to remember one thing that I think all pilots have a hard time with. If we were meant to be out there we would have been born with feathers and wings, so don't get discouraged when the weather doesn't work out. Greg and I drove down to the mailbox LZ and kited for a good 45 min in a very demanding breeze which I feel taught him more than 20 minutes sitting in a seat pulling on those little strings. We had a good time and came home with a smile on our face and all our goods where they belong. Don't get discouraged because when its good and we get that flight that lasts for hours we realize how special it is when mother nature lets us ground bound bipeds take to the sky.

Paul's New Ship.

After a long windy spell I set out once again. This time with Paul and Brent to get some action at Merriam. There's no place like home Dorthy. Paul got a lot of time in the saddle (well over an hour) to get to know a new Glider and harness. Brent got to tune up after a long rest.

Back In Action

I had a great weekend that started with a Friday night flight with Paul at Apache Maid Look Out. We got there kind of late so we didn't get all that high just over 8,000 but it was smooth and boaty.

Don't let winter slow you down!

There is still fun to be had you just have to dress accordingly.

Hola Winter

After the warmest November I can recall we settled into December and got pounded by A Ton O Snow. My good friend BJ offered me a job at the Arizona Snowbowl and I accepted. Its been fun and rewarding to just work untill the day is done.

Adios Summer

As Laura and I raked leaves and cut back dead flowers this past weekend I couldn't help but think back over the last six months and what has transpired. The summer started out hot and kept me working long days which kept me safe and sound on the ground. I rode my motorcycle quite a lot and had some really memorable rides and a high speed very close encounter with a tree that made my life pass before my eyes. I got to paddle a handful of times and I flew less than ever. Don't get me wrong all in all it was a great summer loaded with memories to last a lifetime. I spent more time with loved ones and family than usual and spent a lot more days hanging out at home or at the shop doing things that make a difference in overall performance. I've learned to get back to what got me where I am. The concrete business is my true money maker and passion I am always working towards bettering my service and craftsmanship while getting it done in a timely manner. I have noticed a downward trend in my ability to do this while teaching paragliding and have fought to keep some sort of balance and happiness. I'll physically and mentally strain my self all week to be able to teach all weekend. I have learned that this is a very unhealthy trend as I am helping no one when I am worn down. Would I like to quit teaching? No. I would like to teach less and slowly remove myself from the scene and fly for myself more. Sounds simple yet with new instructors that have substandard curiculum, por site knowledge and a complete lack of respect for local people and the hill itself I find a reason to keep my presence if just to help the locals and students that I have taught keep this place alive and stop any wrong doings that I see. It is very difficult for me to stay at the craters when I see this happening and anger will sometimes make me go somewhere else to fly. Yet I refuse to fold and let these guy's come in and cost the entire flying comunity a great site. I may not teach as much in the future however you can count on me fighting to keep the craters a safe, fun and hopefully uncrowded place for years to come.
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